Video: Distribution of humanitarian aid to Khan Yunis residents/Photo: Reuters
The United States has made clear to Israel that it expects increased humanitarian aid and fuel delivered to Gaza in recent days amid a lull in fighting to continue even if the ceasefire ends, senior U.S. officials told reporters on Tuesday.
Why it's important:
- During the lull in the fighting, which went into effect as part of the agreement to release the hostages, an increased amount of humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip, including an area in the northern Gaza Strip. The increase in aid also included the introduction of a large amount of fuel and cooking gas.
- Israel sees increasing humanitarian aid as part of the consideration it gave for the release of hostages, but the US administration emphasizes that increasing aid to the Palestinian population is not subject to this.
Receiving humanitarian aid that reached the Gaza Strip through UN/TPS personnel, Majdi Fathi
US President Joe Biden's extended meeting with cabinet ministers, October 18, 2023/Government Press Office, Haim Tzach
What they say:
- "The aid that entered Gaza and the fuel provided have nothing to do with the release of the hostages. We took advantage of the fact that there is a lull in the fighting as part of the agreement to increase the amount of aid entering Gaza as much as possible, but this move stands on its own," said a senior US official.
- He added that when the release of the hostages ends, resulting in a lull in the fighting, the levels of humanitarian aid to Gaza should not decrease.
Snapshot:
- Today, the first of three US military planes will arrive in al-Arish in northern Sinai, carrying tons of humanitarian supplies for the population of Gaza - food, medical supplies and warm clothing for the winter. Two more planes will arrive in the coming days.
- "Winter clothing is something that the UN has made a high priority given that the rainy season has begun in Gaza," the U.S. official said.
The Biden administration is concerned about an Israeli operation in the southern Gaza Strip, where more than two million Palestinians are currently heavily densely populated/IDF Spokesperson
Why pay attention:
- U.S. officials said the Biden administration was concerned about an Israeli operation in southern Gaza, where more than two million Palestinians are now heavily densely populated, after one million people moved there from northern Gaza as a result of the fighting.
- According to them, the Biden administration has told Israel most clearly that it is very important that the way an Israeli military operation is conducted in the southern Gaza Strip is such that it does not significantly displace Palestinians from their homes.
- The officials said that large-scale displacement of Palestinians as occurred in northern Gaza cannot take place in the south. "If that happens, it won't be possible to provide enough humanitarian aid to the population," a senior U.S. official said.
- The U.S. official added: "If I have to describe the Israeli government's response to our messages, I think they accept it. They understand that the operation in the southern Gaza Strip must be conducted differently from the way the operation was conducted in the north."
- More on the subject:
- Gaza War
- Iron Sword War
- United States
- Gaza Strip